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General discussion

System temperature

Feb 1, 2004 1:33AM PST

I built myself a computer about a year and a half ago. It was noisy so I am gradually taking steps to install quieter components.

Amd Athlon XP 2000+
Gigabyte 7vrxp
Gainward Geforce4 ti4200 64mb
Western Digital 120gb hard drive

Last year I installed the zalman flower aluminum and copper heat sink which cut down on the noise a lot but left my cpu running at about 60 degrees celsius idle and about 65 under a load. I haven't noticed any problems with this though.

Recently I just replaced my case fans with panaflos and installed Akasa Pax.mate in my aluminum case (a foam that sticks to the inside on the case and helps absorb fan noise). This also cut down on the noise a lot. However, my system temperature has risen and now idles around 40 degrees celsius sometimes getting up higher under a load. I can't find anywhere on the internet to check for ok system temperatures. The panaflos are quiet but also move less air so less heat is removed. I have two in the front as intakes and one in the back as exhaust.

Is this heat going to be bad for my computer? In other words will it damage my components?

Discussion is locked

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Re:System temperature
Feb 2, 2004 4:02AM PST

I'm following this dicussion becaurse I have the same question. I just tried a trial SW which report that my boad temperature is 255.0

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That software is totally incompatible with your mobo.
Feb 2, 2004 7:08AM PST

check for later versions. Those readings are absolutely ridiculous and useless [unless they are typos by you].

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Re:System temperature is fine given that we can't measure such within a few degrees.
Feb 2, 2004 5:42AM PST
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Temp has RISEN ????????????????
Feb 2, 2004 7:13AM PST

Seems that your post says it was 60 to 65 C before and is now 40 C that seems to be a reduction. Not only that it is excellent [if that is CPU temp].

Maybe you were somehow using CPU in one place and System temp in the next. Pretty tough to get a coherent thought that way.

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Re:Temp has RISEN ????????????????
Feb 2, 2004 12:40PM PST

The CPU temperature hasn't really changed much. It is still around 60 or 65 degrees. I meant that the system temperature is now 10 degrees higher. It is 40 to 44 up from about 30 to 35. Also, just to clarify something, I am using Gigabyte's software utility to measure the temperatures.

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Remember to measure DELTA and not ABSOLUTE.
Feb 2, 2004 8:45PM PST

When measuring your CPU temperature, an effect that throws many is that the room temperature can affect the CPU temperature. Or more specifically the case or nearby temperature(T).

Its just physics that a 5 degree rise will happen if the T of the room is 5 degrees more.

In short, always make your measure in DELTA or difference from room temp or case temp to see if your heatsink is better/worse.

Bob

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The first problem that you should address IMHO
Feb 3, 2004 4:35AM PST

is to get the case cooling fans [or add one or two] moving air in a cooperative direction so that each fan can can run close to its optimum efficiency. If they all blow out [exhaust] and there is insuffient area for intake air the fans will be very ineffective. if they all blow in and have insuffient exhaust area, same problem.

If your case can have an exhaust fan at the top, that would be very effective [heat rises].

Robert is correct re delta T. AMD recco's that the temp 1 to 1.5 inches above the center of the HSF hub should be 7 degrees C [or LESS] above the room ambient temperature. That AIN'T easy to do.

7 C degrees is about 14 F degrees. [ratio of 9 to 5].

Also as Robert says the interior temp will change degree for degree as you raise or lower the room ambient temperature.

Keep in mind that the "System" temp is a single point measurement. The temp at various points inside the case can vary widely with inadequate air circulation.

Get an indoor outdoor thermometer [10 to 20 bucks] at Radio Shack. The outdoor sensor is either a thermocouple or thermistor on about a 3 foot thin cable. The sensor can be located inside the case to read the temp at various locations. The cable is thin enough to allow putting the sensor inside with the system cover fully buttoned up.